Page 60 of Brooklyn Bratva

In the living room, sitting in the center of the couch, was a man who was possibly taller than Ivan in a suit that was definitely more expensive than any of his. His muscles were more understated, but I could tell he was strong just from the size of his hands. His long legs were spread wide, one ankle up on the opposite knee. One long arm stretched along the back of the couch where not so long ago I’d dug out the bullet from Ivan’s shoulder, and there was a beer in his other hand. I could see exactly why Ivan was seething. The pair of them both thought they were top dog.

His smile turned on when I came into the room and he stood up, holding his hand out to shake.

“Max Toropov. Pleased to meet you Becca. Ivan’s been telling me how special you are.”

I felt my cheeks flush and I darted my gaze to Ivan, only to see his jaw clench hard enough that I worried for his teeth. I liked to think he talked about me, but given our conversation the night before, I doubted he’d talked to Max. The suave Englishman didn’t seem like the kind of guy Ivan would be bosom buddies with, even if he hadn’t been emanating hate towards him.

I couldn’t help the awkward laugh as he drew me in close for a series of cheek kisses that caught me totally off guard. “Might as well be European while I still can.”

I must have looked confused. Max pointed to his cheeks and I figured he meant the kissing.

“Oh, right.”

“Us Russians prefer a good old bear hug, isn’t that right Ivan?”

“Nice to meet you too. Max.”

“Touch her again and I’ll kill you.”

I cleared my throat, staring down at my shoes and trying not to let my smile curl too obviously onto my face, but it was a losing battle.

“Ivan, be nice to your guest.” He was acting like some kind of pitbull. Did he really think I had eyes for anyone but him?

Predictably, Ivan ignored what I said, but he did pull me in against his hip and draped one meaty arm around my shoulders as he continued to glare daggers.

Max rolled his eyes, taking a casual swig of his beer.

“When you’re done plotting the many ways to dismember me for daring to complement your… thoroughly ravishing other half, I thought we could all go out for the evening.” I tried not to laugh. Max was clearly trying to wind Ivan up, and he was too much on the defensive to see it. Despite myself I was starting to like the guy. “You know, really hit the town. It’s not often I get to work with anyone from the organization directly. Make a chance to socialize with my people.”

“I’m not your people.”

“I think you’ll find you are.”

I nudged the side of Ivan’s foot with my shoe and surreptitiously dug my elbow into his ribs until he actually looked at me.

“That would be nice. Wouldn’t it? Going out for the evening. Get some dinner, maybe do a bit of dancing.”

Ivan grumbled under his breath. “Fine. We’ll go out.”

I clapped my hands.

“Tatiana’s it is,” Max chipped in, looking rather pleased with himself too. Then he frowned slightly, but his lips still held onto his smile. “I say, isn’t that the place Menshikov hangs out? We might even bump into him. Wouldn’t that be something.”

Ivan shook his head from side to side in a very abbreviated manner. “No wet work in my precinct. Nothing with Becca there.”

Max’s eyes sparkled as he knocked back another swig of his beer. “I really have no idea what you’re talking about, Ivan. Do you know what he’s talking about, Becca? If you don’t mind, I’m going to go and freshen up. The pair of you probably want to change.”

I looked down at myself suddenly conscious that I was very much not dressed to go out dancing. At least, not in an old-school place like Tatiana’s where most of the women were in killer heels and their best dresses.

I glanced at Ivan. “He’s right. I can’t go like this. I’ll have to go back to Mama’s.”

Ivan grumbled again. “Fine. I’m coming with you.”

“You’re going to leave Max on his own?”

“He’s a grown man. He can handle it.”

CHAPTER 32

Becca

“Did you know your mom got a new cell phone?”

Ivan squinted at me as I rifled through my wardrobe. I caught his eye in the door mirror.

“She doesn’t use her cell. What’s she going to do with a new one?”

I shrugged. “Beats me. It matches her lipstick though.”

“Heaven help us.”

I rolled my eyes. Maybe I should wait to mention my concerns until Ivan was in a better mood, which I suspected would be when Max was back at the airport.

I pulled a choice of dresses out of the wardrobe, and Ivan glanced them over from where he was sitting on the end of the bed.

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